Kenney Joins Forces with Notley Against Alberta Separation

Jason Kenney's departure from Alberta's United Conservative Party (UCP) in 2022 marked the end of his era as a populist leader, but it also set the stage for a new chapter in Alberta politics. The province has been embroiled in a heated debate over separation from Canada, with Premier Danielle Smith calling a referendum on October 19.

Kenney's leadership campaign to merge the Progressive Conservative Party and the Wildrose Party created a new entity, the UCP, which ultimately won the 2019 election. However, his populist stance fueled anger among separatist circles, which eventually pushed him out of office.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep divisions within Alberta's politics, with Kenney's Citizen Initiative Act providing an institutional tool for separatists to air their grievances. The era of 'F-Trudeau' and 'F-Notley' flags and bumper stickers was a prelude to the Freedom Convoy that crashed into Ottawa.